A night guard is a custom-made cover that protects your teeth from grinding and clenching. It takes the force that would otherwise land on your enamel, and it eases the tension in the jaw muscles. It is made to fit your mouth, which is the whole difference between one that works and one that does not.
What a Night Guard Does
Who Needs a Night Guard?
Most people who need one have no idea they grind. It happens while you are asleep, so the evidence turns up in the morning or in the mirror.
- You grind or clench your teeth, whether or not you have noticed
- Your jaw aches, or you have TMJ symptoms
- Your teeth are wearing down, cracking, or chipping
- You wake with headaches or a sore jaw
The advice follows an examination. Worn edges, small cracks, and flattened biting surfaces tell the story even when you would swear you do not grind.
Is a Custom Night Guard Worth It Over a Shop-Bought One?
This is the question worth asking, and the honest answer is that they are not the same product.
| Custom guard | Shop-bought guard | |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Made from a scan or impression of your teeth | Boiled and bitten into a rough shape |
| Bite | Adjusted so your bite closes evenly | Not adjusted at all |
| Comfort | Made to be worn every night | Bulkier, and less comfortable to wear |
| Fit | Custom made and adjusted to your bite | Generic, and it can shift |
| Cost | $687 | Much cheaper |
The risk with a poorly fitting guard is not just that it is uncomfortable. A guard that does not let your bite close evenly can make jaw symptoms worse rather than better.
How Is a Night Guard Made?
- A scan or impression is taken of your teeth.
- The guard is made to fit precisely.
- Your bite is adjusted for comfort and so it works properly.
- You are shown how to use and clean it.
- Follow-up visits are arranged if they are needed.
The bite adjustment is the step that matters most, and it is the step no shop-bought guard has.
How Long Does a Night Guard Last?
It depends on your bite and on how heavily you grind. There is no honest average, because a light clencher and a heavy grinder will not get the same life out of the same guard.
What is worth knowing:
- If it fails within a year, it is replaced
- Clean it daily and store it safely, which does more for its life than anything else
- It is checked at your routine visits
- Replacement is advised once wear or damage shows
What Does a Night Guard Cost?
A night guard costs $687. Final pricing varies based on your individual clinical needs.
Cost varies with the material and the type of appliance. Insurance coverage is specific to your plan, so an estimate is sent to you in advance rather than left as a surprise at the desk.
That estimate is worth waiting for. Guards sit in an awkward place in most plans, and the amount covered varies more than people expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Book a Night Guard Assessment in Nobleton
If you wake with a sore jaw, or someone has told you that you grind, that is worth an examination. People searching for a night guard near you are usually already past the point of wondering.
- $687, with an insurance estimate sent before you commit
- Custom-made and bite-adjusted, not boiled and bitten
Patients from Nobleton, King City, Bolton, and Schomberg are welcome.
Nobleton Dental Smiles is a dentist in Nobleton, ON, at 12931 Ontario Hwy 27 #3, Nobleton, ON L0G 1N0.